The Columbia Gorge Early Learning & Resilience Center (ELRC) has been a project long in the making. The intent of the project is to remodel Chenowith Middle School on the west side of The Dalles, Oregon, to allow for community-based supports and transform it into a child care center for up to 200 children. The Columbia Gorge Education Service District (CGESD) has served as the lead partner on this project, along with support from many community members, North Wasco School District, and statutory partner, the Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) Foundation.
This project hinges on a combination of federal, state, and private funding sources. Unfortunately, recent developments have suspended the availability of critical federal funds for this initiative.
"Understandably, the community team that has developed and stewarded this project for more than 5 years is disappointed by this news" stated Dana Pedersen, Columbia Gorge Education Service District Superintendent. "I share their frustration. We remain committed to pursuing every option available to us for financing this project. However, as it stands, we do not have the funding required to proceed with the Early Learning & Resilience Center remodel."
In December project partners were notified of their selection for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Change grant in the amount of $19.9 million dollars, an amount that put this ambitious project quickly within reach. That award was formally contracted between EPA and CGESD in January 2025.
On March 10, 2025, the grant status changed to ‘suspended' without a timeline for when it would be released. The total amount awarded for this grant is $19.9 million, with $16.6 million dedicated to direct construction costs to remodel and update Chenowith Middle School.
At the end of the same week, the passage of the Continuing Resolution impacted the project when various Community-Initiated Projects (CIPs) or congressionally directed spending, were eliminated from the Fiscal Year 2025 federal budget. The ELRC was slated to receive $1.5 million toward construction costs.
In response to this news, per North Wasco School District Superintendent Carolyn Bernal, “North Wasco County School District shares the disappointment of this news with our partners CGESD and CGCC. We have been eagerly anticipating the start to this long needed project and are saddened it will now be delayed. Nevertheless, we remain committed to partnering in this project and hopeful that it will come to fruition through other means someday."
“CGCC has been deeply invested in this project to help ease the shortage of high quality early learning opportunities in our community. CGCC remains hopeful that we can work with our partners and the funding agencies to navigate these challenges and get this project back on track,” added CGCC President Dr. Kenneth Lawson.”
For more information, contact Columbia Gorge ESD Superintendent Dana Pedersen at dpedersen@cgesd.k12.or.us